Meet the Maker - Cat from Atelier By Cat
I'm so excited for you to meet Cat! Her STUNNING cards are some of my favorites and available in the shop. Keep reading to learn more about her and her business!
What made you start your business?
I have always been in and out of art classes most of my childhood and experimented with different mediums from paint, to oil, to pottery on wheels. When I moved to NYC in 2013, I put that side of me on the back burner while 18 year old me hustled to make it here. In 2021, on the back of graduating college I had a lot of free time on my hands. I decided to sign up for an online watercolor class as this was one medium I could never get into as a child. I started painting on cardstock I had laying around and turned them into notecards, documenting the journey on my personal instagram. I genuinely was surprised by the reaction of my friends and family and ended up offering to send anyone who was interested some pretty hand painted snail mail! I think I had about 20+ people reach out in the end! It was really fun and just felt like a natural progression to selling watercolor notecards. I still offer from time to time a “freebie” sign up, where you can get a freebie from me in the mail and it’s been a fun way to meet new people, customers, even other small businesses, and artists!
What has been the biggest struggle for you related to your business?
I would say one struggle is trying to stay true to who I am as an artist and the art I want to put out into the world. I had a successful reset this year when I rebranded from Undesired Taste and I constantly ask myself if the art I'm making, or mediums I am testing, really fits into my vision of Atelier By Cat. As an artist, it is easy to conform and do what others ask of you or try to make art that's “trending” because it sells! One example is wedding paper goods. This is a huge stationery and artist industry, and many people do it beautifully! I have accepted that this isn't a niche I want to explore, at least for now, and I am happy to refer them to a fellow artist and paper goods contact!
What has been your biggest accomplishment with your business?
I would say my biggest accomplishment would be the connections I have made so far! Whether in person or online, a possible collaboration partner or just a new friend, the small business owner “circle” can be intimidating at first to break and imposter syndrome is real! I feel like I have created some special friendships and industry colleagues to bounce ideas around with and have some cool collaborations and projects coming to fruition out of it with brands I use regularly or admire.
What is your favorite product you make/sell?
I love the new seed paper envelope card collection and I am looking to expand on it. I think it’s so special to not only give someone a unique hand painted card, but also be able to use the envelope to grow their own wildflowers as well. The concept fits my brand and is genuine to who I am as a person because I obviously LOVE flowers so much! The new eco-friendly materials I am working with this year really excite me and the seed paper is definitely a special one! Also to note, I am working with 3-4 small businesses when it comes to sourcing these materials which really brings everything full circle!
What is your best selling item?
Over the last 2 years I would have to say the Watercolor Hearts by far is a best seller! Whether it's a set or individually. They are a top seller every Valentine’s Day for obvious reasons, but even after, they continue to live on throughout the year. I offer the original version which is hand painted and this year, I introduced an original printed version as well. Both are just the perfect little notecards for any occasion and people just seem to love them!
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